Families and care professionals taking part in the online Early Bird and Teen Life courses that Fegans will host over the next few months, will receive a wealth of literature to support them. This is thanks to a £3,208 donation from the Gatwick Airport Community Trust.
The courses are expected to help 96 families who have young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASCs).
The Early Bird course is aimed at younger children and Teen Life focuses on adolescents.
The courses are designed to help with:
• Understanding autism and the key areas of differences
• Understanding and supporting sensory differences
• Adjusting communication
• Visual supports and structure
• Socialisation and self-awareness
• Communication and behaviour
• Encouraging independence
The content for both courses was developed by the National Austistic Society (NAS). Fegans now has licensed Early Bird and Teen Life professionals who have received the full training to deliver the courses.
What is the GACT?
The Trust is an independent charity set up in 2002 as part of the legal arrangements between West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council and Gatwick Airport Limited following publication of the airport’s Sustainable Development Strategy. It awards grants annually for deserving projects in Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Nicola Baldwin, Parenting Lead at Fegans, said:
‘We are delighted to have received this funding and would like to thank the GACT trustees. It will make a real difference to the families seeking support. The course runs well online and to have the handbooks delivered to their homes means they will be able to refer to them for guidance. This is going to have such a positive impact on the young people and those around them, bringing them all together to thrive in harmony.’